A locking device comprises a key that comprises a key power coil and a key data coil and an electronically-actuatable lock comprising a lock power coil and a lock data coil. The key power coil and the lock power coil are coaxial and at least partially overlapping one another when the key engages the lock. The key data coil lies in a first plane and the lock data coil lies in a second plane. The first plane and the second plane are substantially parallel to one another.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An electronic key comprising: a power source; a processor in communication with the power source; a data transmission device comprising an annular structure, the data transmission device configured to communicate data from the processor to a data receiving device in the lock when the data transmission device is in electromagnetic communication with the data receiving device during engaging of the key with the lock, despite the data transmission device not being in electrical contact with the data receiving device during said engaging of the key with the lock; and a first power coil having an axis positioned within an opening defined by the annular structure of the data transmission device, the first power coil configured to transfer power from the power source to a second power coil in the lock responsive to the key engaging with the lock, the first power coil and the second power coil having different sizes, enabling one of the first power coil or the second power coil to physically fit concentrically within the other of the first power coil or the second power coil when the electronic key is engaged with the lock.
2. The electronic key of claim 1 , wherein the data transmission device comprises an inductor.
3. The electronic key of claim 2 , wherein the data transmission device comprises a toroidal shape.
4. The electronic key of claim 1 , wherein the annular structure of the data transmission device is concentrically aligned with the first power coil.
5. The electronic key of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a battery.
6. The electronic key of claim 1 , further comprising an input device configured to receive a code from a user.
7. The electronic key of claim 6 , wherein the data communicated from the processor is responsive to the code received from the user.
8. An electronic lock comprising: a data receiving device comprising an annular structure, the data receiving device configured to receive data from a data transmission device in a key when the data receiving device is in electromagnetic communication with the data transmission device during engaging of the key with the lock, despite the data receiving device not being in electrical contact with the data transmission device during said engaging of the key with the lock; and a first power coil having an axis positioned within an opening defined by the annular structure of the data receiving device, the first power coil configured to receive power from a second power coil in the key responsive to the key engaging with the lock, the first power coil and the second power coil having different diameters to facilitate fitting one of the first power coil or the second power coil within the other of the first power coil or the second power coil when the key is engaged with the electronic lock.
9. The electronic lock of claim 8 , wherein the data receiving device comprises an inductor.
10. The electronic lock of claim 8 , wherein the data receiving device comprises a toroidal shape.
11. The electronic lock of claim 8 , wherein the annular structure of the data receiving device is concentrically aligned with the first power coil.
12. The electronic lock of claim 8 , further comprising a barrier positioned behind the annular structure of the data receiving device.
13. The electronic lock of claim 12 , wherein the barrier comprises a spherical ball formed from a ceramic material.
14. An electronic key comprising: a power source; a data transmission device comprising an annular structure, the data transmission device configured to electromagnetically communicate data to a lock when the data transmission device is in electromagnetic communication with the lock; and a power coil having an axis positioned within an opening defined by the annular structure of the data transmission device, the power coil configured to electromagnetically transfer power from the power source to the lock, the power coil sized to fit concentrically with respect to another power coil included in the lock when the electronic key is engaged with the lock.
15. The electronic key of claim 14 , wherein the data transmission device comprises an inductor.
16. The electronic key of claim 15 , wherein the data transmission device comprises a toroidal shape.
17. The electronic key of claim 14 , wherein the annular structure of the data transmission device is concentrically aligned with the power coil.
18. The electronic key of claim 14 , wherein the power source comprises a battery.
19. The electronic key of claim 14 , further comprising an input device configured to receive a code from a user.
20. The electronic key of claim 14 , further comprising a processor configured to access second data from the lock, the second data identifying one or more identification numbers of one or more second keys used to access the lock.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 4, 2014
August 23, 2016
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.